called forth by the presence of the king: 1 day bore so strong a semblance to the On his return in 1814, he had been greeted whigs of former times. The sentiments with one general expression of joy, but of the gentlemen opposite had been, perthe demonstrations of satisfaction were baps, more distinctly expressed on the still greater in the last year, and he had question, how far one country might be on no occasion seen enthusiastic kindness justified in taking upon itself to interfere more generally elicited from a people in with the internal aitairs of another, than honour of their sovereign than on that. they would have been, had he not laid The conduct of the allies with respect to before them the precedents in question, Louis had been perfectly consistent. and therefore he did not feel at all dis.

There was, however, necessarily a diffe- posed to regret that he had been induced rence between the course which they had io bring them forward. What precedent to pursue, when he was obliged to Hy his could be more distinctly in point than that kingdom, and that which was prescribed which proved that in former times, to to them when he was enabled to resume establish the authority of the king of this the administration of the government of country on a secure basis, it was necessary France. The relations between the allied to guard against his being left merely des powers and him of course changed, when, pendent on the support which might be instead of being compelled to reside out afforded to him by the people of these of his dominions, he was again established | realms ? It had been thought no dispain the exercise of his functions. The ragement to British liberty on that occadifference to which he alluded, arose from sion to enter into a treaty with the States the course which the sovereigns had in General, in which it was stipulated, that, the first instance thought the interests of should it become necessary, a certain their own subjects, as well as those of number of infantry and cavalry should be Europe, generally made it their duty to sent over to England, to support the king pursue. They had not thought it right against the people, if ever they should be on entering on the new war, to make the so infatuated as to resist the exercise of restoration of Louis a sine quâ non of his lawful authority. Now he would ask peace. But though they had not, in the if the present government of France was first instance, felt themselves called upon not as lawful and as legitimate as that to declare that they would prosecute the could be in whose support this treaty had war till he was re-seated on his throne, been concluded? Was it not more reasonwhen he was in a situation to resume his able that Louis should desire assistance authority, it was not for them to oppose from the interference of a foreign state, his doing so, and by thus virtually dis- than it was that an English monarch should placing him, risk again disturbing the be thus supported who had not that revopeace of Europe."

lutionary spirit to contend with, which at . The precedents which he (lord Castle- present unfortunately threatened the aureagh) had brought forward last night, thority of the king of France. The jughad been objected to by the hon. and tice of the interference of one country in learned gentleman (Mr. Horner), on the the internal affairs of another, was thus ground that the circumstances connected established as far as it could be established with them were not exactly similar to by precedent, when it was proved, that those under which the present treaty had even under a whig administration a treaty been concluded. That there were diffe- had been concluded, by which a British rences which ingenuity might detect, he monarch was made dependant on a foreign did not deny, but this did not make against state for support against the attempts of the comparison which he had thought bis own subjects. might fairly be made. He should be glad He now wished to offer a few words on to know what two precedents in the his. the subject of the imputations which had tory of the world could be found in every been cast on the present national assemrespect precisely the same. Though he blies of France. It was said that a design admitted that some variations might be had been formed for restoring the national pointed out in the circumstances, the prin- domains to those to whom they formerly ciple in both instances was identical, and belonged. He should much lament the this was enough for his purpose, and no- adoption of a measure which would tend thing had pleased him so much as to find, so greatly to disturb the tranquillity of from the statement of the hon. and learned | France. 'If the national assemblies should gentleman, that the whigs of the present be so unfortunate as to retrace the steps

a

of the revolutionary legislators of that repelling any new effort that might be country, by disturbing the present pro- made on the part of France, it was possiprietors in their possessions, he would ble our neglect in this instance might cause agree with the hon. and learned gentle that country, and indeed Europe, to be man, that acting thus they would prove again deluged with blood. The hon. and themselves the bitterest enemies, not only learned gentleman, however, seemed of their own sovereign, but of the general against precaution altogether; he would tranquillity of Europe. Such a measure not suffer money to be taken from France he was confident would be in direct oppo- -he would not keep up a military force sition to the feelings of the great mass of there—and he doubted if he could bring the French people, and whatever had been himself to touch the frontiers. He there said of the manner in which the members fore seemed to desire that we should go of those assemblies were elected, he be back to the peace of 1814; and in this he lieved they brought with them a consider- had separated himself from all his political able share of the popular feeling into their friends. deliberations. The influence of the go- He should now notice what had fallen vernment in France had not that effect on from the right hon. gentleman who had the elections, which it had been supposed spoken last. That right hon. gentleman, they had by many persons in this country. turning aside from the dangers which He had never heard that the members menaced our interests in other countries, returned under their influence exceeded a had particularly dwelt on the jeopardy in tepth of the whole number, and he had which our liberty at home would be often heard it maintained, that they did placed by the maintenance of that army not amount to a twentieth. The mem- which had served us so well abroad. The bers of the present chamber were three noble lord said, he did not see the danger times as numerous as they were under the himself, and he did not believe the counlate system, and they had a much greater try would easily be brought to recognise number of constituents, not fewer than it. He could easily conceive the right 50,000 persons having voted on the elec. hon. gentleman might feel it to be his duty tions. These persons were distinguished to advocate the wise principles acted upon as those who paid most to the revenue of by our ancestors, but that he himself the country; they were therefore likely could seriously believe our liberties would to be among the most enlightened portion be endangered by the circumstance of an of the French people. By the elective English arıny being kept up in France for franchise being placed in such hands, a a specific service, and for a limited time, very tolerable representation of the coun- he could hardly think possible.

It was a try was obtained. From the manner in romance too extravagant for imagination. which this assembly had been brought to- He (lord Castlereagh) admitted it would gether, and from the feelings by which it have been possible for our contingent of appeared to be animated, a strong, if not the force to be maintained in France to a conclusive proof might be drawn, of the have been composed of foreign troops ; decidedly, favourable impression which but he knew not why any feelings of irrihad been made on the minds of the French tation should be excited by an English generally, with respect to the character of force being preferred for this duty. He the king. This was so clearly demon had every reason to believe that the feel. strated by various circumstances, that he ings of the French people were most thought the only feeling which existed in favourable to this arrangement; that they France against Louis 18th, was that of the would rather British troops should come military interest ; he meant those who in contact with them than those of any looked for advancement to the creation of other nation. The arrangement would an army, to promotion, and to the rewards not be expensive to this country, and he of exertion in war.

did not hesitate to state it to be most deWith respect to the scope of the hon. cidedly his opinion, that we could not do and learned gentleman's argument, which better than to guard against too liastily represented the force to be kept up in breaking down that force which it had France as dangerous to our internal cost the country such stupendous efforts situation at home, he should offer a few to build up, before we were certain we words. He apprehended the House would could go on securely without it. If a prebe disposed to agree with him, that if we cautionary system was thought necessary did not keep in existence the means of to secure the peace of Europe, he could

see no reason why those admirable soldiers, Molyneux, H. H. Russell, lord John who had deserved so well of their country,

Madocks, W. A. Russell, R. G. should not be kept together (if this could Martin, John Ramsden, J. C. be done without expense to England) for Martin, Henry

,

Ridley, sir M. W.

Monck, sir C. its support. Those who had conquered

Romilly, sir S. at Waterloo he had thought might well Morland, S. B.

Moore, Peter

Rowley, sir Wm.

Sebright, sir J. be maintained in France, at her expense, Mackintosh, sir J. Scudamore, R. P. till the state of the world should be such Newport, sir John Smyth, John H. that we might safely ground our arms, till North, D.

Smith, Wm. the danger of re-action was gone by, and Neville, hon. R.

Tavistock, marquis the peace of Europe was securely esta- Nugent, lord Tierney, rt. hon. G. blished.

Pelham, hon. C. Townshend, lord J. Sir Charles Monck did not wish to take

Pelham, hon. G. Waldegravc, hon.capt.

Peirse, H. any unfair advantage of the noble lord, by Philips, Geo.

Walpole, hon. gen.

Western, C. rising after he had made his reply. He Piggott, sir A. Wilkins, w. should not have done this had he not en- Powlett, hon. W. v. Wyon, sir W. W. deavoured but in vain to speak before. Ponsonby, rt. hon. G. Wynn, C. He wished, as the conduct of the Whigs Ponsonby, hon. F. C. TELLERS of former times had been brought under Palmer, C.

Milton, viscount the consideration of the House, to submit Rancliffe, lord Horner, F. to them a comparative statement of the The House adjourned at four o'clock on course which had been pursued by former Wednesday morning. Tories. [The hon. member was here interrupted by cries of question, and the impatience of the House to divide became ex,

HOUSE OF LORDS. treme.] He had wished, he said, to state

Thursday, February 22. what in former times had been the conduct STATE OF THE Nation.] The Duke of the Tories, conceiving this to be the last of Bedford said, that in consequence of opportunity he should have of doing so, the rejection of the amendment of his noon the present question ; but having been ble friend (lord Grenville), and considerinformed that his object might be affected ing the immense peace establishment now when the report of the address was taken in contemplation, the great pressure of into consideration, he was far from wishing, taxation by which it was proposed to sup: at that late hour, to trespass longer on the port that establishment, and the internal patience of the House.

distress of the country, particularly of that The House then divided :

part of the united kingdom called Ireland, For the amendment .......

........ 77

he felt it his duty to call the attention of Against it .......

240 the House to the state of the nation, and Majority against the

therefore notice of a motion for that Amendment............ --163 purpose for Thursday se'nnight. His The original address was then put, and grace moved that the lords be summoned agreed to.

for that day, which was ordered. List of the Minority. Abercomby, hon, J. Ebrington, visc.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Althorp, viscount Fergusson, sir R.

Thursday, February 22. Anson, hon. sir G. Fitzroy, lord J.

Mr. Gooch presented a petition from the Atherley, A.

Fremantle, Wm. Bennet, hon. H. G. Fazakerley, J.N.

land owners, farmers, and other occupiers Baring, Alex. Gordon, R.

of land in the county of Suffolk, complainBirch, Jos.

Guise, sir B. W. ing of the distresses under which they laBrand, hon. T.

Hanbury, Wm. boured. The hop. member said he could Burrell, hon. P. D. Heron, Sir R.

assure the House that the petition was Byng, G. Knox, Thos.

signed, not as petitions were sometimes Brougham, H. Law, hon. Edward

signed, by persons who would put their Lambton, J. G. Campbell, hon. J.

names to any thing, but by upwards of one Lemon, sir W. Cavendish, lord G.

thousand of the most respectable inhabiLewis, Frankland Cavendish, hon. C. Lyttelton, hon. W.

tants of the county, who were absolutely Cavendish, hon. H. Maitland, hon. A. weighed down by the pressure of the Caulfield, hon.

Markham, admiral times (Hear, hear!]. They alleged in Duncannon, visc. Mathew, hon. gen.

the petition, that it would be impossible (VOL. XXXII.)

(3 F)

gave

Campbell, gen.

for them to go on if some relief was not he had heard upon the policy of this meaafforded. They could neither pay the sure, he had met no person who was not taxes nor their landlords, and they pointed friendly to the principle of the measure, out the malt duty, and the agricultural although some might think it prudent, that horse duty, as to things from which relief the punishment of the pillory should not might be given to them. Ordered to lie be abandoned in toto. "Notwithstanding on the table.

these opinions, however, it was his intenThe Grand Junction Water Works Bill tion to bring in the bill in the same shape was read a second time, and ordered to be in which he had introduced it last year, referred to a committee.

and if it should undergo amendments, he A petition was presented from the should at least have the satisfaction of protown of Tiverton against the renewal of curing some alteration in a practice so exthe property tax.

tremely objectionable in every point of At the suggestion of the Speaker, the view. The main ground upon which he dropped orders of the preceding day rested his dislike to the punishment of the were disposed of.

pillory was, that it was a punishment which Mr. Baring inquired, if he was at liberty could not be measured or dealt out by a to bring on his motion respecting the court of justice, but was apportioned solely transactions in Ceylon, without another by the caprice of the multitude. For this notice ?

reason it was, that he thought it ought no · The Speaker said, he apprehended that longer to remain upon the statute book. a dropped motion was gone, until revived He would not now enter into the reasons by a fresh notice. The House, if it saw why he should not even wish this punishfit, might resolve upon letting it proceed, ment to extend to that abominable offence, but no member was entitled, as a matter which was so disgraceful to human nature, of right, to do so.

and to which it had recently been so often Lord Castlereagh observed, that if the apportioned. He did think, that such exobject of the hon. member's motion was hibitions were productive of no moral merely for information, which the govern- good; but, on the contrary, tended to inment would willingly give, he should feel crease the vice it was meant to suppress. disposed to let it come on then, but if it The inequality of the punishment in its was intended to raise a discussion upon application, however, was one argument, the question, he should prefer another no- which he considered decisive, as to the tice being given, and as a matter of per- propriety of its no longer being suffered to sonal convenience to himself, should re-exist. This inequality was evident, quest that it might not be to-morrow. from a baker for selling bread short

Mr. Baring then gave notice for Wed- of weight, being as much subject to the nesday next.

punishment, as a man who had placed the

life of a fellow-creature in jeopardy, by PILLORY ABOLITION BILL.) Mr. M. calling God to witness a gross and diaboliA. Taylor rose, in pursuance of his notice, cal falsehood. Upon the whole, he thought to move for leave to bring in a bill to abo- the punishment ought to be abolished allish the punishment of the pillory. After together; and therefore, begged leave to what had passed upon this subject, when move, “ That leave be given to bring in a it was brought before the House in the bill for the abolition of the punishment of last session, on which occasion his propo- the pillory.". sition met with the unanimous concurrence Sir Robert Heron said, he had a strong of the House, he did not now think it ne- feeling respecting this bill, and doubted cessary to say much. It would be recol. almost whether to venture on giving his lected, that after the bill had passed all its opinion to the House, though his mind was stages in this House, it had gone up to the made up on the subject. The improved and other House, where, in consequence of mild morality of the present times had the indisposition of the noble lord on the been disadvantageous so far as it was too woolsack, it remained till nearly the close lenient to crimes, and had too much pity of the session. There were those who for former acquaintances and connexions. then thought it desirable to postpone the This sometimes paralyzed the arm of the question till the present session, and in law, and gave facilities for the escape of obedience to their wishes, he now again guilty persons. It sought to retain in sohad to present the subject to the notice of ciety those who had disgraced it. He parliament. In the conversations which meant to offer an amendment to the bill,

but should not press it, if it appeared serting the authority of the House, and of against the sense of the House. Cer- convincing every court in the united kingtain , offerice shady ofcolate much tincreased

dom, that when the House required the and, he feared, owing too much to the pre- production of papers, it was that court's vailing mildness and indulgence. All who bounden duty to produce them, that he attended the assizes must know how diffi- should now move “ That an humble adu cult it was to convict capitally offenders of dress be presented to his royal highness this nature. Evidence could generally be the Prince Regent, stating that on the got only by the suspicious testimony of an 20th of April last, &c. &c. [here the object accomplice. Convictions were chiefly for of the original motion was repeated]; assaults with a further intent. As to humbly representing to his royal highness, transporting these persons, it might sub- that although the session of parliament dià ject others transported to punishments pot terminate until the 12th of July folworse than what the law inflicted. If such lowing, the said papers were not laid on crimes were effectually checked in upper the table of the House, and praying therelife, it would have a great effect. The fore that his royal highness would be grawretch, who stood in little fear of impri- ciously pleased to give directions that they sonment, pillory, or death, might perhaps should be presented forthwith, together be affected by the terror of perpetual dis- with a statement of the reasons, if any can grace and scorn.

be assigned, which induced the court of Mr. M. A. Taylor said, he was sure he session to fail in conforming to the direccould satisfy the hon. baronet in private, tions of his royal highness the Prince Rethat there was but little hope of reform to gent, expressed in his gracious answer to be expected from persons addicted to this the address of the House.” He was the atrocious offence, under any circumstances more suspicious as to the motives of the of punishment, however severe.

delay, because he well remembered that on a Leave was given to bring in the bill. former occasion great reluctance had been

manifested by the court of session to proADDRESS RESPECTING FEE PAID TO duce a return required by the House, CLERKS OF JUDGES, &c. IN SCOTLAND.] which return, when it was produced, proSir John Newport said, that on the 20th of ved that the court had set at nought an last April the House agreed to an address act of parliament. He was afraid that the to, the Prince Regent, praying that he person at the head of the court of session would be graciously pleased to give direc- had not forgotten the doctrines which he tions to the lords of the court of session in broached when he was lord advocate, and Scotland, to lay before the House an ac- that he did not know to what his powers count of all the fees and duties paid or extended, or where they terminated. payable to the clerks of the ordinary jud- Mr. William Dundas declared, that if he ges in the court of session, from the insti- thought the court of session had

any distution of the college of justice down to respectful intention towards that House, the 1st of August, 1789, as also all acts he would be the last man to defend them, of sederunt issued by the same court down but he was convinced that that was not to the same period. On the 25th of April the case. The fact, he believed, was that a most gracious answer was communicated the right hon. baronet, not satisfied with to the House, stating that his royal high- having in 1814 moved the appointment of ness had given directions accordingly. No a commission to inquire into the subject, return, however, making its appearance, in 1815 made the motion which the House another address was agreed to on the 24th was now called upon to enforce, and that of May, praying that his royal highness the court of session conceived that it would would be graciously pleased to order that be sufficient to submit the required inforthe account should be laid before the mation to the commission. As to the House forthwith. Another gracious answer acts.of sederunt, no such acts had been was received, purporting that his royal made by the court, who had therefore highness would give the necessary direc- made no return. He allowed that it might tions. But although the session of par- have been better had the court of session liament continued until the 12th of July, returned" nil” to the order of the House; the lords of session did not think proper but he was persuaded that there was no to lay the required statement on the table intentional disrespect on their part. He of the House. This neglect he strongly wished, therefore, that the right hon. bareprobated, and it was with a view of as- ronet would erase those censorious expres

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